Pembridge Amenity Trust

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Protecting the Scheduled Historic Buildings and Monuments of Pembridge. A Registered Charity No 1060265

Pembridge the Village - Pembridge has clearly seen many changes since its inception. The village pre-dates the Domesday book. A community has existed at this place for over 1000 years. At one point in its history the village exceeded Leominster in size and was an important centre of commerce during the mediaeval period. Following the Industrial Revolution, Pembridge appeared to "fall off the map" and economic activity declined. The village was left alone to continue its rural traditions in relative isolation and, as a consequence, much of its medieval character remained unspoiled.

Conservation of The Market Hall, Pembridge, Herefordshire.

Current Work .

After months of planning, work has now started on the conservation of the Market Hall in the centre of the “black and white” village of Pembridge in north Herefordshire. Dendrochronology (tree ring dating) shows that the Market Hall was built between 1502 and 1538, making it the oldest building of its type in the country. A charter granting Pembridge a market date back to 1240 and was granted by Henry de Penebruge. The building is still in use with regular farmers markets as well as other village activities throughout the year. The last time any work was carried out on the building was in 1927 and since then time and the elements have taken their toll.

The project is being organised by Pembridge Amenity Trust, a registered charity who look after the Market Hall, Bell Tower and Millennium Meadow. The Trust has worked hard over recent years to generate the funding for this project. They have been fortunate in securing funding up to £190,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £13,292 by the Herefordshire Rivers Leader+ and £2,230 by Herefordshire County Council with the Trust contributing 5% of all the eventual costs.

Project architect Sarah Butler of Trevor Hewett Architects of Hereford said “After months of planning it’s good to see the project underway. The scaffolding’s up, the structure is covered, we’ve already had the slates removed and they are being graded with as many as possible being re-used. We are on schedule and once the work is complete the building will be safe for future generations.”

Main Contractor Capps & Capps are carrying out the building work which is due to last sixteen weeks. Pembridge Amenity Trust are planning a special event to mark the conservation of the Market Hall.

The funding from Herefordshire Rivers Leader+ involves recording the project in still photographs and video, interpretive boards, leaflets and updates to the web site as well as producing information for local schools.

For more information please contact the secretary of the Pembridge Amenity Trust info@pembridgeamenitytrust.co.uk